“Yes, you discovered the rendezvous at the West End, but once you arrived, what did you do?” Mario demanded. “You screwed up!”
“There was … some confusion. I dunno why Hardcastle identified himself as a cop.”
“The police line was a great idea,” Donny said. “In fact, I suggested it.”
“That figures,” Kramer said with disgust.
“I thought that if Byrne took us for police, he’d surrender quietly.”
“Brilliant.” Kramer pulled out his lighter. “Unfortunately, Moroconi, who had busted out of jail a few hours before, had a slightly different reaction.”
“I couldn’t predict that!” Donny screamed. “He always blames me, Uncle Mario. It’s not my fault.”
“Of course it’s your fault, you little shit!” Kramer shouted back. “Your stupidity got one of my men killed!”
“Uncle Mario, make him stop!”
Mario covered his face with his hands. “Please, gentlemen. Must we always have this squabbling? No wonder we can’t accomplish anything. We’re our own worst enemy.”
“Our worst enemy is our blood relations,” Kramer muttered.
“Have there been any traces of Byrne since the West End incident?”
“Yes,” Kramer answered. “My agents have confirmed that he didn’t go to his apartment or his office, or the courthouse, or any of his other usual haunts. He’s on the run, probably feeling like a cat in a Doberman cage. He finally turned up at a shopping mall.”
Mario looked incredulous. “A shopping mall?”
“Yes. Northpark Mall. One of my contacts reported the incident.”
It was Donny’s turn to snicker. “Yeah, an hour after Byrne left.”
Kramer fired up his lighter and held it about an inch from Donny’s nose. The message was unmistakable.
“Look,” Kramer said, “I planted all the right info with my boys at the police station, and they fed it to those unquestioning vultures at the press. Byrne is a wanted man. He’s got nowhere to go, nowhere to hide, and he can’t run forever. Just gimme some more time. I’ll give you his fat ass on a silver platter.”
“Any thoughts on what this wanted man was doing at a public mall?” Mario asked.
“My source tells me he was running, like he was being chased. He thought there mighta been some gunplay.”
“The police?”
“So soon? Fat chance.”
“Then we must assume that the people who lost the list are now attempting to reclaim it.”
“I’d say that’s a fair conclusion.”
Mario spread his hands across his desk. “Mr. Kramer, I want that list. Bring it to me.”
“A tall order,” Kramer said.
“But one I feel confident you can fill.”
“It won’t be enough to just find Byrne, men. We have to find him before anyone else does.”
Mario nodded. “I concur. Do it.”
“And when I find him? What then?”
“You may do whatever you like with him, Mr. Kramer. Indulge yourself. Just bring me the list.”
“And what if he’s with Al when I find him?”
Mario smiled. “All the better. Shoot to kill.”
31
4:45 P.M.
TRAVIS SLIPPED INTO THE phone booth and closed the glass door behind him. As he dialed he scanned in all directions, watching for suspiciously slow cars or anyone taking an unhealthy interest in his license plate number.
Gail picked up the phone. “Holyfield and Associates.”
“Put me through to Dan.”
“Omigosh! Travis! Is this you?”
“Shhh!” Travis hissed into the receiver. “Don’t say my name. Someone could be listening. Just act as if this is nothing out of the ordinary and put me through to Dan.”
“But, Travis, everyone is so worried—”
“Gail—”
“I don’t care what anyone says. I know you didn’t have anything to do with those murders.”
“Gail, transfer my call to Dan.”
“I just wanted you to know—”
“Gail, do it!”
“Right, right …” Travis heard a series of electronic beeps as his call was transferred.
“Hello?”
Travis recognized the voice at once. “Dan, are you alone?”
“Travis! Where are you?”
“Dan, please don’t say my name. We don’t know who might be listening.”
“What are you talking about? I’m alone.”
“Dan, just let me talk. I can’t stay on the line for long. They might trace the call.”
“They? Who on earth—”
“Dan, I’m not going to be able to finish the trial. Send Abigail or someone else over to make an appearance—”
“The trial has been suspended, Travis.”
He swore silently. “Because I didn’t appear in court.”
“Plus the fact that your client broke out of jail last night.”
Of course. How stupid of him. Normally, the voluntary disappearance of the defendant wouldn’t halt a trial (if it did, they’d all disappear), but when both the defendant and his attorney vanished, it could definitely gum up the works.
“Was Hagedorn angry?”
“What do you think? He held you in contempt and issued a bench warrant for your arrest. Which is convenient, because I understand the police are looking for you anyway. Charles didn’t have much choice under the circumstances. You haven’t been disbarred, Travis, but of course, the day isn’t over yet.”
“I had to stay away, Dan. Someone’s looking for me. Someone who wants to kill me.”
“What could be safer than a courthouse?”
“Dan, I got the hell beaten out of me in the courthouse a few days ago.”
“Come into the office, then. I’ll see that you get every possible protection.”
“Sorry, Dan. I’ve already driven by the office. Someone’s parked across the street from the front door, and there’s a thug pacing up and down the steps. I’m certain they’re watching for me.”
“I’ll personally escort you upstairs.”
“I’m not putting you in danger.”
“Travis. The police think you were involved in a shooting at the West End.”
“It isn’t true, Dan. I mean, I was involved, but only as a target. You’ve got to believe me. People are trying to kill me.”
“Travis …” Dan inhaled slowly, choosing his words with care. “I know you’ve been under a lot of stress lately. We’ve all been trying to get you to slow down. You’ve been working much too hard.”
“I haven’t gone bonkers, Dan.”
“No, of course not. You’re just a little … stressed. Paranoia sets in. …”
“You wouldn’t think I was paranoid if you’d lived my last twenty-four hours. People are trying to kill me, Dan. And it appears to involve both the police and the FBI, so don’t suggest that I turn myself in to either one.”
“Where did you get the idea that—”
“I don’t have time to go into it Just relay a message to Judge Hagedorn. Tell him I apologize, that I regret the inconvenience to the court, and that I would’ve appeared if it had been at all possible.”
“I will, Travis, but I don’t see what good it’s going to do.”